I don’t know if I necessarily believe it when I say this, and could be convinced otherwise, but rugby union would be better off with rugby league scrums.
There, I’ve said it, now time to defend myself.
I came to this conclusion while watching the All Blacks versus Wales game on Sunday morning. I’m not sure if I was tired or clear minded though because scrums are the joke of rugby league.
They look ridiculous, almost always are won by the team with the loose head and feed (bar the occasional push – see the Warriors’ Round 18 game against the Eels) and look utterly pointless.
But, they do serve a purpose. The point of the scrum in my eyes is to reward one team for another’s mistake that didn’t warrant a penalty. This is exactly what rugby league scrums do, they give the deserved team possession and a set platform from which the backs can attack.
The forwards are all sucked in to one ‘mob’ for lack of a better word and the backs have space to play a running game. This is what everyone wants isn’t it? A beautiful running game where points are scored.
On the other hand we have union scrums that are constantly getting toggled with by the game’s governing body the IRB. It seems like every year we have a new call by the referee when the scrum is underway – crouch, hold, engage. Touch, pause, engage. Crouch, bind, set, engage. Why not stand there, put the ball in and get it over with?
Are scrums really worth being reset once, twice, three times before a penalty is awarded to the team who won the lucky dip? Even the commentators, players and coaches don’t know who scrum penalties should go to. It seems like the rules have changed so much they just accept the referees’ decisions at scrum time because they simply can’t keep up.
During Saturday morning’s game each scrum was reset at least once. I didn’t count the scrums but in the first 20 minutes this annoyed me and I noticed it so there must have been a few. It took a lot of time out of the game for what in theory should be a good spectacle – watching two 1000-kilogram packs of muscle try to push each other off a ball.
The reality is that it never turns out this way and it ends with a half collapsed pile of people, the front rowers with sore necks and funny looking ears, and either a penalty, a reset, or the team who should be rewarded for forcing a mistake instead getting messy ball for their backs and losing ground.
I believe the game would be a much better spectator sport if they gave up on trying to get the scrum right as it doesn’t seem to be working. They should adopt the league scrum. The forwards pack down, stay there and the backs can use a set move.
Also, it would make way for a fitter and faster game, the props in the game could be taller, faster players to get to the ruck/maul quicker and the hookers become another playmaker like their league counterparts. Or all three could be more like loose forwards as their body shape wouldn’t be needed come scrum time.
I’ve only really thought of one side of this hypothetical change in the game so please point out where I’ve gone wrong. But to me it seems like a no-brainer to speed up the game and have a more open, exciting show for the punters in the crowd and at home.
Dublin Dave
Guest
Love it Jeznez And if you're reading this Sheldon Ccoper: yes. He is being sarcastic. :)
Gilbert
Guest
You don't watch much rugby union, do you?
LengendaryABs
Guest
Nathan, I wouldn't bag you for being a rookie but there is no doubt you are an Australian Seriously. Really?
Daniel Bryson
Roar Rookie
If (and that's a big if) the scrums are consistently refereed to a high standard then it makes for a great contest and a good spectacle. But the main problem is they're not, this means you have some props (and scrum halves for that matter) being allowed to get away with numerous infringements at scrum time. What World Rugby needs to do is set very clear guidelines and maintain and enforce very high standards to all of its referees so that there is no interpretation of the rules and so that there is no confusion and no excuses when it comes to what's expected of the players.
Edward Pye
Roar Guru
A free kick won't work because teams will just opt for another scrum to suck in the loosies
Edward Pye
Roar Guru
Thanks for the lesson. Now can you please explain where babies come from.
Edward Pye
Roar Guru
It's a no brainer to have written this article
Marty
Guest
I know that I've joined the conversation a little late but I thought I'd just throw something else in the mix. It strikes me that one of the problems currently in international rugby is that the competing packs are so big and powerful that the grass surface is often struggling to take the strain. How often do you see a scrum being reset because the turf has given way. Maybe someone needs to do some work with groundsmen to see if they can come up with a more robust playing surface. Then, for those of us who like that sort of thing, can watch more of the piggies going head to head and less head to turf.
Craig Watson
Guest
Scrums are the things, that more than anything else, turn me off watching rugby. Those and incessant penalties. One scrum is not enough. The ref has to set another and sometimes even another.. Quite often at the end of the third a penalty is blown and we have a further delay. . Five minutes later and there goes a small portion of the game. Add 20 further five minutes and scrums waste an awful lot of rugby game time. The other time waster and one big yawn from bored spectators are the incessant blowing of a ref's whistle for whatever reason. This really gets up my nose as it kills the flow of the game. Union administrators need to have a good look at the way Rugby is played and bring about much needed changes to make the game more of a spectacle.
Stin
Guest
Rugby is a game of contesting possession. League is a game of territory.
Ralph
Guest
Don't watch much league, but I never could work out what the point of their 'scrum' was.
Bunratty
Guest
"Stop the clock when the first scrum collapses and only restart the clock when the halfback retrieves the ball after a successful scrum." Yep. " Why not stop the clock as soon as a scrum or a penalty is called and start again on retrieval or the ball being kicked." Yep (including kicks at goal which seem to take longer and longer). And maybe, incorporate some time outs for the coaches, as in American football. Stopping the clock at crucial moments, esp. if your team has a chance of scoring points/winning the game at the end, instead of letting the clock wind down through time-wasting tactics.
44bottles
Roar Guru
He is a kiwi vaguely :P
PhillNZ
Guest
Disagree completely with every point you have raised. Rugby was never been an officious penalty driven game. It has become a squeeze the opposition to get a penalty in the last 20 years. Getting a shot at goal for obscure reason as putting hand on ground or not touching or not setting straight or any amount of IRB engineering of the scrum , if thats what YOU like there is another game out there that YOU would love. Your rationale for what a scrum is used for and penalties is important to rugby has nothing to do with getting the scrum's potential to be a BETTER SPECTACLE which players , spectators want a physical clash , shove , push win the ball and get it out. Well if you like watching officious penalties winning the game then all power to you a lot of people don't share your sentiment however you do have a major ally the IRB or World Rugby.
PhillNZ
Guest
IRB scrum rules for amateurs , however professional competitions , different ball game, different rules
Gregus
Guest
No no no no no and No........ we already have that its called sevens or you could just go and watch league ....the beauty of Rugby is the technical nature and inclusion of all body shapes.........Nothing like a huge prop saying get some of that into you as they flatten the opposition...its all in the matchups halfbacks side steeping a no 8 etc.... your suggestion would result in a default setting of tries being set up from the bomb...aka league. A better amendment to rugby at this point would be to stop the pre line out huddle and treating injured players (Forwards) off the field and replaced until treated aka bloodbin before a scrum eliminate...... time wasting .
jeznez
Roar Guru
Haven't seen him this tour. Through the earlier part of the year I was still convinced he was an excellent LH being converted into a poor TH. You guys need a replacement for Jannie though. Hopefully he begins to master the new role.
jeznez
Roar Guru
What is a scrum but an 8 on 8 group hug with a winner?
jeznez
Roar Guru
No need to adjust the lower grades. Even second tier footy has functioning scrums.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Agree. If it's main role is to reduce players from the defensive line then - lying on their tummies feet facing the ball is a great way to slow them down.